it’s the little things that make us different

Cool monkeys on the Alliance Francaise building at the bottom of Kildare Street.

Damn, I’ve been trying to think of somewhere I noticed gargoyles on recently in the city and cannot…. the Pearse St “keystone cops” are cool, nice bit of imagination

for those not familiar, here’s a link to another http://www.irish-architecture.com/archdublin/20thc/keystone2_lge.html

of course there’s also the carving of fruit and vegatables on the Corpo Fruit Markets off Capel Street

[This message has been edited by Paul Clerkin (edited 25 July 2001).]

The carvings on the newly restored Sunlight Chambers.

There is a small dragon on the apex of a gable on the western side of moore st.

Some fine carved heads as like on the Custom House to be seen on a certain building in Dame Street and Westmoreland/Fleet Street.
How ever it is true that Dublin greatly lacks such little details and nuances when compared to other cities.

Note too the Georgian plaster relief roundals on Eccles Street near Tony Quinn’s ‘health!’ shop. How they ever managed to survive as the this once fine street was savagely mauled!

[This message has been edited by GregF (edited 26 July 2001).]

Up until recently (last year or so), there was an interesting plaster relief work around a building on Dawson St. at the junction of St. Anne St. It gave a curtain/drape effect around the basement window and was regularly snapped by tourists etc. It was in disrepair for quite a while then the place was “done up” and that was the end of that.

I remember that building….presumbably the building is Georgian and the plasterwork was added in Victorian times. Then when it was recently ‘restored’ to it’s original condition they removed the plasterwork. I suppose by simply removing the plasterwork it cut down ‘conveniently’ on specialist restoration techniques…which is a shame.

[This message has been edited by GregF (edited 27 July 2001).]

Dublin buildings are not exactly endowed with the little or elaborate oddments or fragments one sees elsewhere. But there are a few embellishments to be observed and to show others on the Victorian buildings along Dame St. and in particular NIB, AIB banks and what’s now called the Mermaid restaurant.

Also some rather sombre looking heads fronting the old Iveagh Market on Francis St. What does the future hold for this grand old building since the Corpo sold it on some 6 years ago ??

Even Dublin Churches are lacking the elaboration / decoration one sees on the continent – with the great exception of the magnificent John’s Lane Church Thomas St. This great “poem in stone” as described by John Ruskin was designed in 1860 by Edward Welby Pugin who chose Dalkey granite for the building and Welsh red sandstone for the decorative work (both external and internal). The wedding cake altar of Carrera marble is a must to show visitors along with the shrine (to the right of the main altar) which is surrounded by metalwork of the master craftsman.

On the same theme of John’s lane, I came across a web site on its bells; http://www.maths.tcd.ie/~atbates/johns-lane.html

St. John’s Lane…. continued.

The windows in the apse are from Mayers of Munich. Two windows close to St. Rita’s altar are by Irish Artist, Harry Clarke, the most striking window is near the Lady Chapel and is the masterly work of Michael Healy.

Aaaaaa….the bells now they add to the atmosphere of “The Liberties” as they ring round its old streets of a Sunday morn’ (making a chime of ten). These are housed in the 200ft tower. The twelve statues in the niches on the tower are the work of James Pearse, the father of patriots Padraig and Willie.

Must go down (have been on the mitch) next Sunday “and catch last mass” after a stroll along Francis and Meath St. ramble up along the Coombe and thence into Baker’s of Meath St. for a pint and one of the last of Dublin’s walk in the door pub ballad sessions.. yes indeed it’s the little things that make us different ..roll on Sunday in “The Liberties”.

Don’t forget the massive heads on the warehouse on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay. I believe that they were once the keystones on O’Connell Bridge in its previous incarnation of the Carlisle Bridge.

While we are at it can anyone identify the attachment. I think it is in the Camden Street area

Lets not forget the weird and wonderful creatures on the building now occupied by the Dublin Brewing Company in North King Street.

I too like the monkeys playing billards on the Kildare St Club, although they are in a surprisingly poor condition.

Each of the heads of the Custom House represent various rivers in Ireland – I think thats the most facinating aspect of such quirky features – there’s a story behind everything.

The seahorses adorning the lamposts on Grattan Bridge are of note, as are the two lanterns on the centre island of College Green – although two more which originally formed a square of four around Grattan’s statue have unfortunately disappeared.

that lion over the entrance to Newman House is quite amusing. anyone know who was the sculptor?

Although not in the city centre, there are two fine gargoyles on the steeple of St.peters church in Phibsborough.